Phone hacking: News International makes fresh apology in national newspapers

News International has made a fresh apology in Sunday's national newspapers,
placing adverts declaring there should be ''no place to hide'' from the
police investigation into phone hacking.

The advert concludes: 'Apologising for our mistakes and fixing them are only the first steps. It may take some time for us to rebuild trust and confidence, but we are determined to live up to the expectations of our readers, colleagues and partners. We will not stop until these matters are resolved.'

It follows comments from Foreign Secretary William Hague that he was not embarrassed ''in any way'' by the Government's relationship with News International executives.

The publisher's advert, which features in several newspapers, is headed: ''Putting right what's gone wrong'' and states that the company's ''obligation'' includes ''Full co-operation with the Police'' and ''compensation for those affected''. It says the organisation is ''committed to change''.

In relation to the police inquiry, it reads: ''There are no excuses and should be no place to hide. We will not tolerate wrongdoing and will act on any evidence that comes to light.''

The advert concludes: ''apologising for our mistakes and fixing them are only the first steps.

''It may take some time for us to rebuild trust and confidence, but we are determined to live up to the expectations of our readers, colleagues and partners.

''We will not stop until these matters are resolved.''

Scotland Yard was dragged further into the furore yesterday following reports that former News of the World deputy editor Neil Wallis was a PR consultant for Champneys health spa at the time of Sir Paul's five-week stay earlier this year.

The force said the stay at the Hertfordshire health farm was not linked to Wallis, who is on bail on suspicion of intercepting mobile phones, and was arranged by its MD Stephen Purdew - a family friend of the Commissioner.

It said the stay allowed Sir Paul to recover from a fractured leg sustained in a cancer operation and meant he could return to his job six weeks early.

Scotland Yard said: ''Following his operations the Commissioner stayed, with his wife, at Champneys Medical from Monday to Friday over a period of five weeks earlier this year where he underwent an extensive programme of hydro- and physiotherapy.

''As with many officers, the Met paid the intensive physiotherapy costs.

''The accommodation and meals were arranged and provided by Stephen Purdew, MD of Champneys, who is a personal family friend who has no connection with, or links to, his professional life.

''The Commissioner only learnt who the PR consultant for Champneys was following a media inquiry today.

''Although the provision of accommodation was as a result of a family friendship, unconnected with his professional role, in the interests of transparency it was nonetheless recorded in the Commissioner's Gifts and Hospitality Register on his return to work in April.''

Sir Paul underwent an operation to remove a precancerous tumour from his femur in an operation before Christmas.

In January, Scotland Yard said the growth had caused further damage to the bone, which led to a fracture.

As a result, Sir Paul was readmitted to hospital and underwent a second ''lengthy and complex'' operation which prompted a long period of recuperation.

Mr Hague defended David Cameron's decision to invite Andy Coulson to Chequers as a ''normal, human thing'' after his resignation as Downing Street director of communications.

Mr Hague said he was not embarrassed ''in any way'' by the Government's relationship with News International executives and he defended the Prime Minister's decision to entertain Mr Coulson, the former News of the World editor, at his Buckinghamshire retreat in March.

Mr Coulson resigned from Number 10 in January as claims were growing about the extent of phone hacking under his editorship of the Sunday tabloid. Earlier this month he was arrested - and later bailed - over the allegations.

Mr Hague told BBC Radio 4's Today programme yesterday: ''In inviting Andy Coulson back the Prime Minister has invited someone back to thank him for his work, he's worked for him for several years, that is a normal, human thing to do, I think it shows a positive side to his character.''

Downing Street has also disclosed that Rebekah Brooks, who resigned as chief executive of News International on Friday, received hospitality at Chequers twice last year, once in June and again in August.

Meanwhile, Gordon Brownsaid he was referring to police an emailed letter he had received from The Sunday Times challenging his allegations about the newspaper.

In a statement, the former prime minister's office claimed that The Sunday Times had sought to ''manufacture claims which were never made and to distort those that were''.

''The letter is now being referred to the police,'' his office added.

Earlier this week Mr Brown claimed in the Commons that News International newspapers including The Sunday Times had illegally obtained information about him and his family.

The newspaper said it investigated Mr Brown in 2000 in the belief he had bought a flat from a company once owned by Robert Maxwell at a ''knock-down price.''

''We used subterfuge, as permitted under the Press Complaints Commission Code, to try to establish the truth. We published a full and honest account which included Mr Brown's comments,'' it added.

''Mr Brown made serious false allegations last week that the Sunday Times paid 'known criminals' to work against 'completely defenceless people'.

''To date he has provided no evidence whatsoever for this slur. We sent a letter to him today asking him to justify his claims.''

The scandal seems to be taking its toll on the public perception of Rupert Murdoch's empire.

In a ComRes poll of 2,009 people for the Sunday Mirror and the Independent on Sunday, 81% of people agreed that all of News International's titles had been damaged by the recent corruption and hacking scandal.

Around three quarters of people - 73% - also disagreed that Mr Murdoch and his son James were ''fit and proper people'' to take full control of Sky TV.